Bobrisky Loses N200m Fundamental Rights Case Against EFCC

EFCC Wins as Court Dismisses Bobrisky's N200m Lawsuit

“The claim of the Applicant against the 1st to the 2nd Respondents hereby lacks merit and is liable to be...”

A Lagos Federal High Court has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by Bobrisky against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A Lagos Federal High Court has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ruled that Bobrisky's claims of rights infringement lacked merit and were unsupported by credible evidence.

In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Alexander Owoeye held that Bobrisky failed to provide convincing evidence to justify the reliefs sought, including an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from harassing, arresting, or detaining him. Bobrisky had also sought N200 million in damages, alleging breach of his rights by the EFCC.

The suit was filed after Bobrisky was arrested and convicted for mutilating and spraying Naira notes at social events. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

One of the key reliefs sought by Bobsoft Global Limited's CEO, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents” from taking any further action against him. Specifically, he requested that the court bar the respondents, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EF), from harassing, declaring him wanted, arresting, or detaining him “whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents...”

In another relief, Bobrisky prayed the court to award the sum of N200 million against the EFCC as damages for the alleged hardship and loss he suffered due to the agency's activities regarding his arrest and trial.

After carefully evaluating all the reliefs sought by Bobrisky, Justice Alexander Owoeye delivered his judgment, stating: “Having evaluated the evidence placed before this Court by the Applicant, it is evident that the Applicant has failed to provide credible evidence to justify the award of the declaratory and injunctive reliefs sought by him.”

The judge added: “In the final analysis, I hold the claims of violation of fundamental rights against the 1st and 2nd Respondents were not made out of the affidavit evidence placed before this Court.

“The claim of the Applicant against the 1st to the 2nd Respondents hereby lacks merit and is liable to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed.”

The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights lawsuit filed by Bobrisky against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Assembly. The court threw out all the reliefs Bobrisky sought, including an order to stop the EFCC and the National Assembly from harassing, detaining, or declaring him wanted.

Bobrisky's troubles with the EFCC began on April 4, 2024, when he was arrested for naira abuse. This led to his conviction by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on April 12, 2024. Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison.

In his lawsuit, Bobrisky demanded N1.2 billion in damages, claiming his rights were violated. However, Justice Alexander Owoeye, who presided over the case, ruled that Bobrisky's claims were baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.